The kitchen is the heart of the home, so why not put your heart into it and make it perfect? If you're looking to renovate your kitchen, it's essential to pay attention to the details that will make a difference in how you use your new kitchen. This can be as simple as ensuring that all your appliances are high quality or as complex as choosing the perfect countertop material for your dream kitchen. So keep reading; we'll walk through each element and show you how they come together to create a luxury-grade space that will impress anyone who walks through your door!
1. Quality custom cabinetry
The first element of a perfect kitchen is cabinetry. It's what you see when you enter the room, and it should be a focal point—but more than that, it's home to all your kitchen necessities. When choosing custom cabinetry, there are many factors to consider, such as defining what is quality, determining the overall look and feel of your kitchen, and the cabinets that best suit your kitchen function.
When you choose a cabinet maker to fabricate your kitchen, make sure they are fully customized, that they use solid wood or plywood, and that they can offer suggestions on kitchen design and organization.
2. Countertop materials
There are several countertop material choices, and all have beauty and function. Here are the basics you should know about some of the higher-priced options:
Granite is an excellent choice for your kitchen countertop. It's durable, stain resistant and timeless—which means it will never go out of style. Although the type of stone, pattern, and colour can go out of style, choose wisely. Granite is porous and will need to be sealed regularly. If not sealed, the granite will absorb wine, juice, or oil, producing a stain that cannot be removed.
Marble is beautiful and has an air of elegance to them. Marble comes in a variety of types, qualities, and prices. Depending on where the marble is mined, it may vary significantly from another slab. Besides its beauty, marble remains naturally cool, making it an excellent surface for baking and cooking. However, it isn’t resistant to heat, so it likely won’t tolerate high heat. To maintain longevity, marble will need regular maintenance and sealing. Since marble will stain, sometimes permanently, you must be diligent in avoiding acidic liquids and dark fluids such as red wine. Sealing at least annually will help prevent staining.
Soapstone countertops have stunning timeless beauty; over time, they take on a dark rich patina. Soapstone is the only natural stone that is non-porous. It also withstands extreme temperatures, so there is no need to worry about hot pots being placed on them. Soapstone comes in various hardness levels. The softer stone may scratch easier, but it is easily repaired with light sanding and applying mineral oil.
Another fascinating countertop choice is Quartz, a form of engineered stone made from ground-up particles of quartz bound together with resins. The combination of quartz crystals, crushed marble, and granite, along with the polymeric or cement-based binder, gives it the look and feel of natural stone. In addition, quartz countertops are non-porous, so there is no need for sealing like granite and marble. It is also stain-resistant, scratch resistant, and has an anti-microbial component, so it’s an excellent choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
One more thing you should keep in mind when choosing a countertop is if you have under cabinet lighting, a high-gloss countertop can create glare. You can choose a countertop material with less shine or ensure that the lighting has a diffuser that will help with glare.
3. High-end appliances
Next, you'll want to consider the quality of your appliances. A good appliance not only looks nice but also performs well and lasts for years. To get the best appliances for your kitchen, determine how they will be used. Will there be multiple uses at once? Do you have a large family? Do you entertain often?
I prefer the largest refrigerator that the kitchen can accommodate. Fridge real estate is valuable, especially when entertaining or during holiday events.
Miele and Sub-Zero/Wolf are all excellent brands that claim to last up to 20 years, whereas some of the more common brands, such as KitchenAid, Whirlpool, LG, and Electrolux, claim an average 10-year lifespan. AGA brand appliances are a very luxurious and expensive option, but they tend to last for 50+ years. So it may be worth spending more to get longevity out of your appliances.
Higher-end appliances offer more custom options, such as built-in coffee stations and full-size wine fridges with dual control and colour.
4. Coffee centre
With a custom-built coffee centre, you can have your favourite drink at hand whenever you want or need it. An exceptional coffee center should have a multi-brew maker that can froth milk and grind beans. If you want to impress your guests, imagine offering them a selection of Cappuccino, Latte, Expresso, or even a cold-coffee brew.
I prefer to have a coffee center that is discrete by having it built in seamlessly into the cabinetry or positioning it in a place where it isn’t front and center. It is lovely if integrated with your other built-in appliances or kept in an appliance garage on your countertop.
5. Kitchen Lighting
One of the most important areas of the house for lighting is the kitchen. This is where you prepare meals, bake, and entertain. Therefore, it is imperative to have a functional lighting plan. Layering your lighting is recommended to accommodate the various tasks and to offer ambiance.
I cannot count the number of houses I have been in where the ceiling pot lights are in a row down the center of the kitchen island; there isn’t a worse place to have that lighting. A perfect kitchen should have a combination of well-placed pot lights where the light spreads waterfalls over the edge of your countertop, under-cabinet lighting, interior cabinet lighting triggered by opening a door, and island lighting. Finally, ensure the light colour temperature is warm and bright enough for tasks. I prefer 3000 kelvin since it is the perfect warm colour and bright enough for working.
Lastly, I prefer to put all layers of light on a dimmer so that you can dim them for ambiance.
6. Integrated kitchen organization
Properly organizing a kitchen should start in the planning phase of the new construction.
Once the layout has been decided and you know where your appliances will be positioned, you can start planning what elements will serve you well within the cabinetry. Again, I like to keep like-items together, such as all baking supplies in the same area, pots and pans in another place close to the stove, etc. A variety of kitchen organization tools and containers can be purchased and used to help you utilize your space effectively.
A quality cabinet maker can also integrate many features into your cabinetry that can be used and appreciated for its discretion. Such as integrated paper towel holders, drawers with charging stations built-in, and kick plates that conceal pet-feeding dishes. There are many more options to consider; they will make your life easier and your kitchen more functional and beautiful.
Choosing the right elements
Creating a dream kitchen is not necessarily an easy task. However, if you want to create something extraordinary and personalized, it’s worth investing time, effort, and money to ensure that all the details are right. For example, your dream kitchen will look incredible with custom cabinetry made by experts who know what they are doing and can create exactly what you want without compromising on quality. The right countertops will complement your new cabinets beautifully while providing an added benefit in terms of durability or practicality, such as being able to withstand heat from dishes being washed nearby or even placed directly on top.
Creating a dream kitchen involves many decisions, planning, and attention to detail. For me, a well-designed kitchen is purely functional, beautiful, and timeless. Choosing the right elements and giving the necessary effort to the design will enhance your life and make entertaining a joy. Remember, your kitchen is the heart of the home, and now you have the essential elements to make it perfect. Contact us if you want more inspiration to make your home perfect!
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